This group, which is comprised of partners Mark McKie, Ross McKie and Steve Kalkman, also owns ABRA repair centers in Bismarck, ND and Rapid City, SD.

Rollie Benjamin, President and CEO of ABRA, commented on ABRA's decision to award another franchise to McKie Automotive Group: "We are very happy with the success of their Bismarck and Rapid City franchises. This success can be attributed to their team's in-depth knowledge of the damaged vehicle repair industry, and their emphasis on integrity. Their professional staff and leadership fit perfectly with our corporate philosophy, and we feel confident that the Sioux Falls location will continue to perform at the high standards expected of all ABRA centers."

The 10,000 square foot repair center, located at 4001 West 34th Street, employs Bruce VandenBosch as its General Manager. In addition to collision repair, ABRA-Sioux Falls also offers auto glass repair and replacement.

When asked of their decision to open an additional ABRA franchise, Mark McKie commented, "Our affiliation with ABRA has been very rewarding primarily because of their commitment to superior service and excellent craftsmanship. The procedures, training, and marketing support provided by their corporate staff allow us to deliver industry-leading levels of efficiency and quality."

The McKie Automotive Group also operates Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, GMC, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Avis Rent-A-Car franchises in South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming.

ABRA Auto Body & Glass is a national damaged vehicle repair company specializing in collision repair, paintless dent removal, and auto glass repair and replacement. Started with one repair center in 1984, they have grown to seventy-eight facilities in ten states. Their plans for accelerated national growth over the next several years include acquiring existing facilities and building new locations.

Southwall Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SWTX), a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of thin-film coatings for the electronic display, automotive glass and architectural markets, today announced that on Dec. 18, 2003, it secured an agreement for a new bank loan guarantee and equity financing package of up to $7.5 million from Needham & Company, Inc., its affiliates and Dolphin Asset Management.

Co-Ventures in Glass Containers (CVIGC, Ltd.) of Tampa, Florida, USA and Micro-Tek Canada, Inc. Of Toronto, Canada are excited to announce the beginning of a long term joint venture to combine their extensive experiences and resources to offer the Glass Container Industry globally a best value alternative for all their outsourcing needs in manufacturing, operations and technical assistance agreements, specifically targeted to the smaller manufacturers who have found the larger service companies to be cost and profit prohibitive.The principals of the two companies have found a global need for smaller glass companies who require excellent technical resources to properly compete within the industry without the high costs of employing their own staffs or outsourcing their requirements to the larger service companies whose own operating costs and overhead are substantial.

When did the wine industry start using glass bottles, and how did they settle on their current size of 750ml? For the answer to these questions, you have to go back in time - back thousands of years to when wine was first cultivated and enjoyed.